飘 (piāo) — (verb) to float (in air or water); (adjective) floating, light, and graceful
Definition
飘 (piāo) emphasizes floating in the air, carried lightly by wind — more airy than 浮 (which is general, often on water) and more graceful than 漂 (which suggests drifting on water).
verb
to float (in air or water)
adjective
floatinglightand graceful
Easily confused
Examples
- 飘。Zhǐ chuán zài hé shàng piāo zǒu le.The paper boat floated away on the river.
- 飘。Tā de gē shēng piāo dào yuǎn fāng.Her singing floated into the distance.
- 。Tā chuān zhuó yì tiáo piāo yì de qún zi.She wore an elegant, flowing skirt.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 飄; 飘 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
風風fēngwind
The traditional form 飄 uses 票 for the sound and 風 for wind; the simplified 飘 is a shorthand.
Appears in
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